You probably don’t spend time thinking about your wisdom teeth, also referred to as third molars, unless something goes wrong with them. A majority of people have heard personal experience or at least know someone who has had some problems with wisdom teeth resulting in them being extracted. So, you might wonder why we have these apparently useless teeth. Well, the answer lies in the story of human evolution. Wisdom teeth begin to emerge or erupt through the jaw tissue between the ages of 17 to 25 years. Human beings are said to grow wiser during this age span hence the nickname ‘wisdom teeth. Due to the fact that wisdom teeth erupt late, there are so many factors that can interfere with them erupting in a healthy way and to their correct position. This is the reason dentists always advise that they are removed as soon as they erupt.
Wisdom teeth have been around for more than 100 million ears. An anthropologist believes that wisdom teeth were the evolutionary answer to the early diet of rough and coarse food- nuts, roots, and meat our ancestors used to eat, which required higher chewing power and resulted to wear and tear of the teeth. The human skull formally had larger jaws than what we have today and have 32 teeth. All these teeth including the molars comfortably fitted in the jaw. All these molars were necessary to the early humans so that they could be able to chew their coarse and rough food. Wisdom teeth with their delayed eruption come as a sort of backup function. Human teeth development takes place in an organised way from the time one is a baby with primary teeth all the way to the first molar erupting. The first molar always erupts at around the age of 6 and the second molar erupts around the age of 12. Wisdom teeth will start forming at around 10 and will not erupt until between the ages of 17 to 25 as mentioned above.
There are some people- about 35% of the population- who never have wisdom teeth, but for those who do, the number is always anywhere between one and four and on very rare occasions more than four. This definitely leads to a crowded jaw. Scientific researchers are yet to come up with an explanation why the number of wisdom teeth varies from individual to individual. Most people who have wisdom teeth displace or crowd the other teeth which can lead to problems. They are notoriously hard to access and clean meaning that they are very vulnerable to decay. As the hominid ancestors slowly evolved into humans, there have been some changes both physical and cultural that have affected the important function of the third molar. This resulted in the jawbone becoming smaller throughout evolutionary history. People now eat processed and microwaved food and as a result, the third molar just like the appendix can now be considered as an evolutionary afterthought. As a result, when wisdom teeth grow the chances are always high that they will become impacted or even blocked by other roots that have formed around them. This can lead to the growth of bacteria or even worse, a serious infection.
Wisdom teeth that fail to erupt and remain tacked away can also lead to some oral problems, such as displacement or crowding of other permanent teeth. A cyst (fluid-filled sac) can also form on the soft tissue of the impacted wisdom teeth, but this is on very rare occasions. This cyst can lead to a number of problems that include jaw expansion, bone destruction, or damage to the surrounding teeth. In addition, more uncommonly, tumours can also develop cysts which can lead to the cyst growing too much or spontaneous breaking of the jaw.
There is a percentage of individuals who develop wisdom teeth just like normal teeth, and as a result, they do not require any wisdom teeth extraction. However, no one can predict when wisdom teeth complications will occur. According to research, 85% of wisdom teeth at some point in life will need to be removed. This means that even if the third molar perfectly fits in your mouth, you are not necessarily home-free. Complications can develop at later stages due to factors like age and teeth development themselves. Having an area that constantly harbours low-grade inflammation and infection in a human body is not good, it has negative long-term effects as it can lead to a low immune system and overall health complications. It has been shown that for people who have all their wisdom teeth, it is best for them to be removed while still young because the roots are not yet deeper, the surgery will be less complex, and it will have a quick healing process. However, just because someone has got wisdom teeth does not mean that they have to be removed. That is why it is important to visit a good dentist that will take the time and assess your wisdom teeth and recommend the best option for you.
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Wisdom Teeth Issues and Solutions
Not all wisdom teeth cause problems during their eruption. When a wisdom tooth erupts in the right way through the tissue without affecting the adjacent tooth, the wisdom tooth can be retained as long as the person can able to brush and floss properly. Sometimes wisdom teeth can be painful but still not be extracted by modifying the surrounding tissue or adapting some oral hygiene measures. If there is a small flap on the swollen gum covering the back part of the tooth, a person may have some pain from biting down the gum tissue. If the wisdom teeth have enough space and are not problematic in any way, the dentist can just remove the tissue from the back of the teeth to remedy this problem. Adopting some oral hygiene measures like changing the angle of the toothbrush and increasing floss frequency in between the wisdom teeth can help the gum to be healthy. This can help to avoid any possible cause of infections or painful gingivitis around the wisdom teeth.
However, there are certain cases where wisdom teeth extraction is absolutely necessary. The wisdom teeth can erupt in a way that the adjacent molar can become somehow hard to keep clean and keep it free from dental carriers. Sometimes, the way a wisdom tooth has positioned itself can cause deep periodontal pockets, recession around the adjacent tooth, or gum disease. In such a situation, the wisdom tooth should be removed before it can cause any damage to other teeth surrounding it. If there is not enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth and they are trying to come out, they may cause a lot of pressure on the surrounding teeth as well as tissues. This pressure can result in a number of negative effects like a mild headache, tooth pain and jaw pain that can only be resolved by the removal of the wisdom tooth. The pressure only means one thing, the mouth is too crowded to accommodate wisdom teeth. If the wisdom tooth has erupted through the tissue, but it is not opposing occlusion, its removal should still be considered. If wisdom teeth suffer from decay, it is always the best option to remove them instead of fixing them by fixing the decay part through fillings, crowns or root canal. These treatments indicated for the third molar are most of the time not successful because of where wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth.
Signs and Symptoms of an infected Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth can be very disruptive and painful to the day to day living. As much as the pain caused by impacted wisdom teeth is often enough to let you know that there is something bad with your teeth. It is vital that you are able to identify the problem early enough. Through regular checkups with the dentist, it is always easy to identify if there is a problem with your wisdom teeth through an x-ray. Any patient with impacted wisdom teeth will begin to notice some symptoms that will continue worsening as the condition continues to develop. Here are some common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth.
– Throbbing Pain in The Back of The Mouth
Any patient suffering from impacted wisdom teeth will suffer a lot of pain. You may notice radiation at the back of the mouth particularly focused on the area where there are the wisdom teeth and the surrounding molars. The pain will worsen as the surrounding teeth become infected.
– Swollen, Tender and Bleeding Gums
Impacted wisdom teeth can bring serious gum disease. The gum may become swollen and very tender to touch. They may start bleeding when the patient applies them making it a hard task to brush and floss. If you notice that the gums are tender and swollen, the chances are impacted wisdom teeth, but then it may also be other forms of gum disease. So, it is paramount to visit the dentist as soon as possible.
– Swelling Around the Jaw
Impacted wisdom teeth always are accompanied by swelling of both the gums and the jaw. At first, it can be subtle but as time goes by it can worsen to the point that it can become difficult to open the mouth.
– Headaches
Patients suffering from impacted wisdom teeth can experience a lot of headaches in the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that connects the jaw and the skull. The pain may slowly start moving to other areas of the head and the face as well.
– Ear Pain
Although it might be rare, an impacted wisdom tooth may cause your jaw to ache, and this may, in turn, cause the ear to radiate. There are some patients who complain to have constant pain in the ear as wisdom teeth grow. However, if the pain is constant, this is another different case where the patient has TMJ. In most cases, this condition can go undiagnosed, and the symptoms can often be mistaken as the symptoms of another problem such as impacted wisdom teeth. If you have some ear pain, you may use an ice pact, try to stretch your jaws, meditate or use other relaxation techniques.
– Sinus Problems
Wisdom teeth can cause sinus problems, though this does not happen as frequently. Sinus problems brought about by wisdom teeth can range from headaches to stuffiness, to pressure in the sinuses. This issue mostly occurs when the teeth grow on the upper jaw. They are positioned far back in the mouth, just below the sinuses. As the wisdom teeth grow and the roots develop, they can push against the sinuses that are located right above and behind. This can bring pressure on the sinuses, thus causing stuffiness and headaches associated with wisdom teeth.
– Swollen Glands of the Shoulders and Neck
Patients suffering from impacted wisdom teeth are often accompanied by some swollen glands in both the shoulders and the neck. This combined with other symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth is a red flag that you might be suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth, and it is advisable that you visit your dentist as soon as possible
What to do If Wisdom Teeth Hurt and cannot be Extracted Right Away
If there is an infection, swelling, fever, difficulty in breathing and swallowing or intense pain, priority needs to be given to getting the wisdom teeth out as soon as possible. The dentist may prescribe some antibiotics to prevent infections from spreading and affecting other areas for a short while. Also, an antibacterial mouthwash or salt water rinse may be used as a short-term remedy before more definitive treatment can be obtained.
Are They Home Remedies that are Effective for Treating Wisdom Teeth Pain?
There are a number of home remedies that have proven to be helpful to alleviate symptoms of wisdom teeth. While home remedies can be helpful and provide temporary relief to wisdom teeth, they are not an alternative to seeking proper diagnosis and treatment from a qualified oral surgeon. There should also not be used for a long period before seeking medical help; they can worsen the situation by allowing the source of tooth decay, and infection to increase and spread to other areas causing more severe consequences. However, in a certain situations, the following home remedies can create a temporary solution to wisdom teeth.
– Saltwater
Saltwater has long been known to have a cleansing effect that fights bacterial infection. If wisdom teeth have pericoronitis or any other type of abscess, a rinse with salt water can help alleviate the pain until the area receives proper medication. To use this home remedy, dissolve a small amount of salt into warm water and then swish the solution for about 30 seconds. Repeat this process two times per day. This can also help after wisdom teeth extraction to help keep the area free from debris or any infection. If the source is decayed or poorly positioned, salt water won’t permanently cure it.
– Clove Oil
Clove oil contains an active ingredient known as eugenol that has a natural numbing effect. Take a cotton ball soak it in clove oil and place it adjacent to the area causing pain. Be sure not to use it for very long as it can cause some irritation or burns to the surrounding tissues.
– Garlic
Garlic also comes in handy to stop the growth of bacteria causing infections. Take some salt and mix it with two cloves of garlic. Grind them to make a paste and place it on the problematic area until the dentist can properly diagnose the problem. For some people, the strong odour of garlic may be somehow difficult to stand for a long time.
– Tea Bag
Various types of tea bags have some natural properties, which can help some problematic wisdom teeth pain and extraction. For example, peppermint tea has a numbing effect and can bring temporary relief by applying a cooled tea bag to the problematic area. Black tea has an acid known as tannic acid. Tannic acid helps to stop bleeding by inducing a blood clot. If you have wisdom teeth that have been extracted and the bleeding won’t stop after an hour, take a moistened tea bag gently place it on the site, and apply pressure to it slowly.
It is crucial to note that the above home remedy only provides a temporary solution to the underlying wisdom teeth-associated problem. Patients should always seek medical attention from an expert as soon as possible. Failure to visit the dentist in due time may mask the problem and further worsening the condition.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Once it has been found out that a wisdom tooth is problematic after proper diagnosis by a qualified oral surgeon, the sure bet to solve the problem is removing it. A wisdom tooth extraction should always be performed by an experienced oral surgeon who has years of experience. The oral surgeon will apply some local anesthesia to ensure that the wisdom tooth is pulled out with little to no discomfort. A majority of people who undergo this process always chose conscious sedation (blocking the pain signal and being put into a sleepy state) so that they have no memory of the wisdom teeth being pulled out. The oral surgeon performs minor surgery on the bone and tissue surrounding the wisdom tooth so that the tooth can be removed with ease. After the tooth has been removed, the oral surgeon will use several stitches on the site where the tooth has been extracted so as to close it and promote quick healing of the underlying tissues. The surgeon may either use dissolvable stitches that will come out on their own after some days or stitches that will require you to go back after some time to have them removed.
What is The Recovery Time After the Extraction of Wisdom Teeth?
The initial recovery and healing will occur after about three to five days. It is entirely normal to have some slight bleeding from the site because the surgical procedure was performed. The minor bleeding is expected to subdue after 24 hours. If it goes for long hours without reducing, then you should seek medical attention. When the anaesthesia wears off, you may experience some difficulties in opening the mouth, jaw stiffness and some pain. The dentist will prescribe some pain medications to help with any discomfort and postoperative symptoms. Usually, an ice pack, Tylenol, and a mild narcotic are enough to reduce the pain. The dentist may prescribe some antibiotics to some patients. During the recovery process, the patient will be required to eat soft foods so as not to irritate the area. The patient will also be required to stay away from spicy food, alcohol, tobacco, and excessive exercise following the surgery. One of the most paramount things to remember is to stop smoking. Smoking after wisdom teeth extraction surgery will increase the chance of postoperative pain and delay the healing process. It can also raise some other complications. The best remedy is to give the place some time to heal. It is also important to adhere to postoperative instructions that the surgeon will give you so as to minimise the occurrence of any complications. For the gums to be fully healed, it may take three to four weeks.
Are There Any Potential Risks and Complications after Wisdom Teeth Extraction
As much as postoperative recovery is normally uneventful, problems may happen. The most common and adverse occurrence associated with wisdom tooth extraction is alveolar osteitis or dry socket. This is a condition where the blood clot in the surgical site dialogues accidentally, leaving the bone to be exposed. The bone along with the extraction socket can become painful and inflamed once this occurs. If this happens, a dry socket will be formed in the mouth after two to five days leaving a bad smell and taste in the mouth alongside constant throbbing pain. If this occurs to you, make sure that you contact the dentist in due time. This is a complication that can be resolved quickly with the stimulation of a new blood clot or a packing medication. More severe injuries are rare, but they include nerve injury, prolonged numbness, and damage to the adjacent teeth among others. You must visit the dentist promptly to discuss your wisdom teeth to minimise any possible complications.
